Deer in North Royalton and surrounding communities are facing another challenge to living. A disease is spreading that is killing them in large numbers. According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, “the first confirmed case of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) was recently announced in both white-tailed deer and cattle in Ohio. The virus was diagnosed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL).”
The first positive diagnosis came from a wild white-tailed deer buck from Lorain County. A large number of deer have been recently killed in Berea and Middleburg Heights, as well as other Ohio areas. In North Royalton, more than 100 deer have died in the past few months, according to Mayor Bob Stefanik.
This disease is not unusual, according to ODA officials, and has been seen every summer and fall of the past few years. The last significant outbreak took place in 2012 and seems to occur about every five years.
EHD does not affect people or domesticated animals, although it is advised that people should not touch or handle sick or dying animals. The disease “is transmitted by the bite of small midges, so infections are often seen in Ohio in late summer and early fall,” according to ODA officials. “EHD-associated deaths can occur up through the first frost of the year. Once infected, deer show symptoms within five to ten days and many deer die within 36 hours of the onset of symptoms. Deer infected with this virus may show symptoms including lethargy, head hung down, loss of fear of humans, swelling of the tongue and head and neck, difficulty breathing and excess salivation due to tongue swelling or ulcers in the mouth. Affected deer are often found in or near bodies of water, likely due to fever and dehydration.”
Stefanik said he does feel bad about the deer, as this is one more thing that is against them. “They are becoming the prey of everything.” In addition to being hunted, their numbers are decreasing with car accidents and now this disease. According to North Royalton Safety Director, Bruce Campbell, last year there were 219 deer killed in accidents involving a vehicle, up from 125 in 2015. He said so far this year 395 have been killed overall, not including those who have been hunted.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer